Trash tray



May 14, 1963 R. T. RENSHAW TRASH TRAY 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 10, 1961 INVENTOR. 2/0/4120 Zeus/MW f f Arne/vars May 14, 1963 R. T. RENSHAW 3,089,633

TRASH TRAY Filed April 10, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR. /amep ZEfA/J/IAW A rme A/E. Y5.

United States Patent 3,089,633 TRASH TRAY Richard T. Renshaw, 625 Lake Drive, Towson, Md. Filed Apr. 10, 1961, Ser. No. 101,872 1 Claim. (Cl. 229-38) This invention relates to a trash tray, or receptacle for holding trash, and has particular applicability to such trash tray for use in a motor vehicle.

A primary object of this invention is the provision of a receptacle or trash tray which may be conveniently suspended from either the lock of the glove compartment or any of the knobs, such as the lighter on the dashboard of a motor vehicle so as to be readily available for the deposit of trash, such as cigarette packages, used kleenex, or such other trash as may be accumulated during the course of a motor trip.

An additional object of the invention is the provision of a convenient receptacle which may be carried interiorly of a motor vehicle for the accommodation of trash, thus obviating any possibility of throwing the trash out on highways with the resultant unsightly litter, and possibility of legal penalty.

A further object of the invention is the provision of such a device which may be folded in flat position when not in use, and consequently transported with a minimum of eliort and difficulty.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of such a device which is readily disposable, and which, when filled may be thrown away.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a device of this character having a substantially one-way opening in the lid thereof to retain any trash inserted therein from blowing out.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a device of this character which is durable in construction, which may be folded flat and expanded to useful position with a minimum of effort and which may be manufactured with a minimum of cost so as to be provided as a free or throw away item.

Still other objects reside in the combinations of elements, arrangements of parts, and features of construction, all as will be more fully pointed out hereinafter and disclosed in the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of one form of device embodying the elements of the instant invention shown in operative position.

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the device shown in folded position.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 44 of FIG. 1 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows; and

FIGURE 5 is a plan view of the blank from which the article is made.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawing.

Having reference now to the drawing in detail, the box or trash tray of the instant invention is generally indicated at as shown in fully open or operative position in FIG. 1 and in folded or storage position in FIG. '2. The box consists of a top wall 11 having a central opening 12 therein, the opening being surrounded by triangular inwardly extending tabs 13 which permit the easy depositing of rubbish in the receptacle but resist its withdrawal. The box also includes a front wall 14, substantially identical but opposite end walls 15, a rear Wall 16 and a bottom 17 (see FIGS. 2 and 3). An integral supporting tab 18 is positioned at the extremity 3,089,633 Patented May 14, 1963 of one side of a top wall, and has-an opening 19 therein which is surrounded by a series of radial slits 20, which permit the opening to be positioned over the lock interiorly of the glove compartment of a vehicle, or over the lighter, or any of the other dashboard protuberances, regardless of size, within the limits of the opening in its associated slots.

When in stored condition the box is flat, as best shown in FIG. 2, and the ends 15 are self opening when pressure is exerted along the corners of the device to expand the same to operative position. In order to achieve this result it is necessary to describe the construction of the box, and the blank from which it is made, which is best shown in FIG. 5, and which is indicated generally at 10a. The top Wall 11 is provided with a pair of right angularly disposed perforated lines 21 and 22, the adjacent extremities of which are connected by fold lines 23, the arrangement being such that when pressure is exerted at the center or intersection of the perforated score lines 21 and 22, they are severed along these tear lines and fold downwardly along the fold lines 23 to form the triangular tabs 13 shown in FIG. 1. Top wall 11 is integral with front wall 14, there being a fold line 25 separaitng the two and the top wall 11 is provided with complementary end flaps 26, which form a portion of the end structure. Each of the end flaps has an angular-1y disposed portion 27, and a straight portion 28 which is parallel to fold lines 29 defining the end of the top wall. A diagonal fold line 30 extends from the intersection of the angle portions 27 and the straight portions 28 to the corner of the flap 31, and forms a triangular tab portion 32 which is coated on its rear or reverse side with adhesive 33. The ends of front wall 14 are provided with fold lines 34- which separate rectangular end tabs 35, which form the major components of end walls 15. The adhesively covered tabs 32 are in the assembly of the box pasted to the sections indicated in dotted lines at 36 of the side walls, and folded along the fold lines, toward the front, it being noted that the rear of the blank is disclosed in FIG. 5.

A fold line 37 separates the front wall 14- from the bottom wall 17, the bottom wall 17 being provided with tabs 38 which are substantially identical to the tabs 26 having outwardly disposed angular portions 39 corresponding to the portions 27 and straight portions 40 corresponding to the portions 28. Fold lines 41 are arranged in substantially identical relation to the fold lines 30 and the triangular tab portions 42 are covered with adhesive 43.

Bottom wall 17 is also separated by a fold line 45 from rear wall 16, which along its edge is provided with a fold line 47, from which project a pair of tabs 48, which are coated with adhesive, on the front side thereof, and which engage beneath the edges 49' of the top wall 11 and are secured thereto in the assembly of the box. End tabs 50 are separated from rear wall 16 by fold lines 51, and are separate from the bottoms of tab-s 38 as indicated at 52, it being pointed out also that the tabs 26 are separated as at 53 from the end tabs 35 and the front wall 14.

The adhesive 43 on triangular portions 42 is secured to the portions 52 of tabs 50. It will thus be seen that in folded position with the fold lines 25 and 45 unfolded and with all of the end flaps 26, 35, 38, and 50 folded inwardly, the box will assume the position as disclosed in FIGS. 2 and 3.

It will also be seen that after the blank has been assembled by pasting in the manner previously described with the various pasted tabs positioned in their appropriate locations, that the ends of tabs 35 and 50 are free, and fold inwardly between the combined top and rear Walls forming an upper section of the device and the bottom and front walls forming a lower section of the device so that in its assembled position the device forms a rectangle as shown in FIG. 2. Pressure exerted on the ends which form the fold lines 25 and 45 will cause folding along the lines 37 and 47 to cause the box to assume the shape shown in FIG. 1. Pressure exerted in the center 24 of the intersection of the lines 21 and 22 will separate the perforated tear lines and cause the tabs 13 to fold downwardly along the fold lines 23. Similarly, tab 18 may be bent upwardly along its fold line 18a, and a suitable protuberance on the dashboard or in the glove compartment inserted through the hole 19 so that the device will be suspended for ready use.

From the foregoing it will now be seen that there is herein provided an improved trash tray which accomplishes all the objects of this invention, and others, including many advantages of great practical utility and commercial importance.

As many embodiments may be made in this inventive concept, and as many modifications may be made in the embodiment hereinbefore shown and described, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to .be interpreted merely as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

A collapsible trash receptacle formed from a blank comprised of a rectangular top portion (11) having a central opening (24) defined by crossed perforated lines (21 and 22) forming triangular inwardly extending tabs (13), a supporting tab (18) extending from one side of the top wall portion and having a central circular opening (19) surrounded by radial slits therein, a fold line (18a) secured between the top portion and the supporting tab, complementary end flaps (26) each including an angularly disposed portion (2,7) and a straight portion (28), the flaps being defined by fold lines (29) at the ends of the top wall or diagonal fold lines extending from the intersection of the angularly disposed portions and the straight portions to the corners (31) of each flap to form a triangular tab portion (32) coated on its rear side with adhesive (33), an integral front wall portion (14) separated from the top wall portion by a fold line rectangular end tabs (35) at the ends of the front wall portion separated therefrom by fold lines (34), adhesivcly coated triangular portions (36) cooperating when the re ceptacle is folded with the adhesive coating (33) of the triangular tab portion (32), there being slots (53) between the end flaps (26) and the end tabs (35), an integral bottom wall portion (17) separated by a fold line (37) from the front wall portion, said bottom wall portion bearing additional end tabs (38) characterized by angular portions (39) and straight portions (40) directed by a diagonal fold line (41) with the inside of the triangular part (41) of the straight portion so formed being coated with adhesive (42), the additional end tabs being separated from the ends of the bottom wall portion by fold lines (41a), a rectangular rear Wall portion (16) integral with the bottom wall portion and separated therefrom by a fold line (45), additional rectangular end flaps (56) separated from the rear wall by fold lines (51), triangular adhesive coated sections (52) on said additional end flaps cooperating with the adhesive coated portions on said additional end flaps when the receptacle is folded, said additional end flaps being divided from said additional end tabs by slits aligned with the fold line between the bottom wall and the rear wall, the additional end flaps being of less width than the first-mentioned end flaps, and a pair of top tabs (48) projecting from the extending end of the rear Wall and adhesive coated for securement beneath the top wall when the receptacle is folded.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,574,520 Singer Feb. 23, 1926 2,291,753 Patten Aug. 4, 1942 2,293,342 Inrnan Aug. 18, 1942 2,326,683 Ross Aug. 10, 1943 2,834,461 Dusseault May 13, 1958 2,926,834 Kaslow Mar. 1, 1960 2,943,780 Bolding July 5, 1960 2,971,688 Akers Feb. 14, 1961 FOREIGN PATENTS 637,534 Great Britain May 24, 1950 

